Predominant cell-mediated immunity in the oral mucosa: gene gun-based vaccination against infectious diseases.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Direct immunization via epithelial surfaces has been considered for many vaccine approaches, including DNA vaccines. It remains to be determined, however, which body site is suitable for genetic vaccination.

OBJECTIVE:

To characterize the effects of the oral mucosa-mediated genetic vaccination, we compared antigen-specific immune responses of the oral mucosal DNA vaccine to the flank skin vaccination against influenza virus and malaria parasite.

METHODS:

DNA vaccines against the influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) hemagglutinin and the malaria Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein were administered respectively three times at 3-week intervals into the oral mucosa, skin, or liver of hamsters. The effects of their vaccine were evaluated by antigen-specific antibody production and cell-mediated killing activity. Furthermore, the in vivo malaria challenge test was also performed after the vaccination.

RESULTS:

Significant specific antibody production was not observed in each case, but interferon-gamma production and cell-mediated killing activity were strongly induced in splenic lymphocytes from hamsters with the oral vaccination. The in vivo malaria challenge after the oral mucosal vaccination significantly delayed the blood-appearance day of the parasites in comparison with other immunization sites (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that gene immunization via the oral mucosa may induce cell-mediated immunity more efficiently than via the skin or liver, and that the oral mucosa may be one of the most suitable tissues for gene gun-based DNA vaccination against infectious diseases.

• Authors: Jun Wang, Takashi Murakami, Shigeto Yoshida, Hiroyuki Matsuoka, Akira Ishii, Toshinori Tanaka, Kiyotake Tobita, Mamitaro Ohtsuki, Hidemi Nakagawa, Mikio Kusama, Eiji Kobayashi
• Journal: Journal of dermatological science (J Dermatol Sci) Vol. 31 Issue 3 Pg. 203-10 (May 2003) ISSN: 0923-1811 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12727024 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Influenza Vaccines
• Malaria Vaccines
• Vaccines, DNA

Topics

• Animals
• Biolistics (methods)
• Cricetinae
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular
• Immunity, Mucosal
• Infections (immunology)
• Influenza A virus (genetics)
• Influenza Vaccines
• Malaria Vaccines
• Mesocricetus
• Plasmodium berghei (genetics)
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (immunology)
• Vaccines, DNA